European Body ‘Concerned’ about Tensions Between Prime Minister and Catholicos

‘Exhorts’ Azerbaijan to Release Armenian Captives

The Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe on Monday expressed deep concern over tensions between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the head of the Armenian Church, Catholicos Karekin II. The PACE, which is holding its annual session in Strasburg also called for an improvement of the frayed socio-political order in Armenia ahead of the June elections.

At the same time, PACE also exhorted Azerbaijani authorities to release the 23 Armenian captives still being held in Baku. The text of the report, which was approved, was drafted before the release of four Armenian hostages earlier this month.

“The Assembly regrets the excessive polarization and stigmatization of political opponents by all sides in Armenia. It is deeply concerned by the tensions between the Prime Minister and the head of the Armenian Church, and by the reports of plots to usurp power by several clergymen belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church,” the report titled, “Progress of the Assembly’s monitoring procedure,” said.

“Ahead of the June 2026 general elections, the Assembly calls for an improvement in relations between the political majority and the opposition, in order to ensure that the election campaign is issue- and policy-driven, and free from personal attacks between election contestants. In this context, the Assembly refers to the recommendation of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance that ‘elected bodies and political parties should adopt appropriate codes of conduct that prohibit the use of hate speech, call on their members and followers to abstain from engaging in, endorsing or disseminating it, and provide for sanctions,’” the approved report added.

In adopting the report, the PACE also voice serious concern about the ongoing human rights violations in Azerbaijan, including the continued captivity of Armenians, which the body deemed is “politically motivated.”

“The Assembly remains seriously concerned about the further deterioration of the human rights situation in the country [Azerbaijan] and the increase in the number of persons detained allegedly on politically motivated grounds, including civil society activists, journalists and media workers, academics, opposition politicians and other government critics. It exhorts the authorities to end retaliatory prosecutions and to release immediately all those detained on politically motivated charges, including 23 Armenian detainees,” the report stated.

Deputy Parliament Speaker Ruben Rubinyan, who headed Armenia’s delegation to PACE, was elected a Vice-President of the group.